A Frings1, S Schrader2, K Hille3, I Staab2, G Geerling2. 1. Univ.-Klinik für Augenheilkunde, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Moorenstraße 5, 40225, Düsseldorf, Deutschland. andi.frings@gmail.com. 2. Univ.-Klinik für Augenheilkunde, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Moorenstraße 5, 40225, Düsseldorf, Deutschland. 3. Klinik für Augenheilkunde, Klinikum Ortenau, Offenburg, Deutschland.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Many studies report comparatively good long-term results among patients with keratoprostheses with biological haptic. However, overall costs are correspondingly high. A clear cost-benefit relationship is therefore desirable. OBJECTIVE: This study investigates health-related quality of life after implantation of a keratoprosthesis with biological haptic. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We present a retrospective analysis of medical data of 25 patients treated between 1996 and 2006 at the Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Homburg/Saar and the Klinikum Offenburg. Health-related quality of life was assessed by means of a questionnaire based on validated instruments, with particular emphasis on physical symptoms, mental health, functional limitations, and social interactions. RESULTS: At a patient age of 49.8 ± 15.7 years (minimum-maximum: 19-78 years; 6 female, 19 male), the mean duration of corneal blindness was 13.8 ± 13.1 years (minimum-maximum: 1-47 years). Changes in visual acuity and subjective satisfaction were statistically significant (p <0.001). Quality of life (on a scale of 1 to 6: median 2) at the time "before the onset of eye disease" and ≥15 months after surgery were identical. Patients with a postoperative visual acuity ≤0.1 (n =11) also showed a statistically significant (p =0.016) benefit in this context. CONCLUSION: The expenditures and costs of keratoprosthetics can be justified by an improvement in the health-related quality of life of the persons concerned. Even a postoperative visual acuity of ≤0.1 correlates with a statistically significant improvement in the subjective quality of life of these patients.
BACKGROUND: Many studies report comparatively good long-term results among patients with keratoprostheses with biological haptic. However, overall costs are correspondingly high. A clear cost-benefit relationship is therefore desirable. OBJECTIVE: This study investigates health-related quality of life after implantation of a keratoprosthesis with biological haptic. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We present a retrospective analysis of medical data of 25 patients treated between 1996 and 2006 at the Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Homburg/Saar and the Klinikum Offenburg. Health-related quality of life was assessed by means of a questionnaire based on validated instruments, with particular emphasis on physical symptoms, mental health, functional limitations, and social interactions. RESULTS: At a patient age of 49.8 ± 15.7 years (minimum-maximum: 19-78 years; 6 female, 19 male), the mean duration of corneal blindness was 13.8 ± 13.1 years (minimum-maximum: 1-47 years). Changes in visual acuity and subjective satisfaction were statistically significant (p <0.001). Quality of life (on a scale of 1 to 6: median 2) at the time "before the onset of eye disease" and ≥15 months after surgery were identical. Patients with a postoperative visual acuity ≤0.1 (n =11) also showed a statistically significant (p =0.016) benefit in this context. CONCLUSION: The expenditures and costs of keratoprosthetics can be justified by an improvement in the health-related quality of life of the persons concerned. Even a postoperative visual acuity of ≤0.1 correlates with a statistically significant improvement in the subjective quality of life of these patients.
Authors: David B Rein; Ping Zhang; Kathleen E Wirth; Paul P Lee; Thomas J Hoerger; Nancy McCall; Ronald Klein; James M Tielsch; Sandeep Vijan; Jinan Saaddine Journal: Arch Ophthalmol Date: 2006-12